A “peacemaker” who intervened when an Arbroath darts match turned ugly left another punter with a broken knuckle after raining punches on him.
Kevin Doyle will be sentenced in June after severely injuring visiting player Craig Bothwell in the Milne Memorial Hall at Buick Social Club last summer.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard a darts tournament turned violent and the premises licensee Gareth Brown – a co-accused in the case – ended up brawling with another man.
Drunken dad Doyle and Mr Bothwell intervened to break up the scrap but Doyle opted to attack his fellow peacemaker.
The unemployed 25-year-old was caught on security footage repeatedly hitting his victim.
He punched Mr Bothwell to the ground and kicked him while he was down, before fleeing.
Away game in Arbroath for darts club
Fiscal depute Alan Kempton said: “The locus is Buick Social Club in Arbroath.
“The complainer is a member of a darts club who were playing an away game at the locus.
“During the course of the evening, there were practice matches taking place.
“By around 11.50pm, the co-accused had consumed too much alcohol and was becoming rather rowdy.
“There was an incident involving the co-accused. The accused (Doyle) thereafter became involved in this matter.
“Witness Bothwell, the complainer, attempted to separate the co-accused and the third party.
“Thereafter, the accused approached the witness Bothwell in the function area and began to punch him on the head and body.”
Mr Bothwell fell to the floor near a table, which Doyle moved before kicking his victim on the body while he was lying on the floor.
Doyle then left the club.
Mr Bothwell sustained a bleeding nose and swollen right hand.
He was checked by paramedics and attended Arbroath minor injuries unit the next day.
It was found that his right hand had a broken knuckle.
Admissions
At a hearing last month, Doyle admitted severely injuring Mr Bothwell on June 13 by repeatedly punching him on the head and body, causing him to fall to the ground and kicking him on the body.
His co-accused, licensee Gareth Brown of Elm Brae in Arbroath, admitted assaulting another man by pushing him, seizing him and attempting to punch him on the head.
The 46-year-old was admonished at that hearing.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said the attack was caught on CCTV.
He said: “This was a darts night.
“His co-accused is the licensee of the premises. The co-accused had far too much to drink.
“There were several teams and different factions of people. There was a number of arguments over the night.
“Two other persons started a fight. It appears Mr Doyle and the complainer were acting as peacekeepers, initially.”
Mr Markowski said his client was under the influence of alcohol when he assaulted Mr Bothwell.
“He accepts the assault took place,” he added.
“He’s aware given the nature that the court will deal with the matter seriously.”
Sentencing had been deferred for reports but Doyle was found to be unfit for unpaid work.
Sheriff Mark Thorley ordered supplementary reports and said he was considering a restriction of liberty order.
He pointed out Doyle has two previous assault convictions, including one at jury level.
Doyle, of Hunter Road in Arbroath, will be sentenced on June 8.
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